Uganda, East Africa

Bwindi, Rwenzori, Bukedo & Raffia Baskets

Bwindi Baskets

These beautiful baskets
come from a group of
women and disabled
weavers. The ladies
usually weave these as
deep open bowls in tan,
brown and black.
An interesting tidbit - Uganda is the source of one of the
legs of the the mighty Nile River.

Baskets are woven from plentiful local grasses and
papyrus found at the edge of the Bwindi Impenetrable
Forest where chimpanzees and gorillas can be found
living - the only place in Africa where both types of apes
live in the same forest. The Bwindi rain forest is so dense
and old that it actually survived intact through the last
ice age and holds a World Heritage Site designation.

Rwenzori Baskets

Groups of women, some disabled or widowed are able to fully support themselves through the weaving of these
baskets (pictured left).

The Rwenzori mountains in these weavers’ area seem a bit out of place in Africa with their snow
and glacier covered peaks of close to 17,000 feet.

Traditionally used in the home, baskets are woven from
discarded Millet stalks, naturally dyed raffia
and sometimes local grasses. The natural portions are dried millet leaves. The vibrant natural
dyes used on the raffia for these
tightly woven baskets come from
flowers, roots, leaves and lichens
grown by the weavers themselves.

Bukedo & Raffia Baskets

The talented weavers of Uganda work
from their homes on a variety of
useful, sturdy baskets. One type we
carry are woven from dyed raffia (from
a type of palm leaf) woven around a
coil of banana leaf stems, called Bukedo. Brightly
colored dyes and inventive,
progressive patterns are a hallmark of
these baskets.